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Anglo-French fixture is what hesitant Toby Flood tips Newcastle to host in Champions Cup final
Newcastle play-maker Toby Flood is not entirely certain which clubs he expects to welcome to the north-east of England for the Champions Cup final on May 11.
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Having built up a bid surrounding the use of football’s famed St James’ Park, the English city won the right to host the 2019 showpiece.
Flood can’t wait for that glamour fixture to now unfold as it will put Newcastle firmly on the rugby map in becoming only the ninth different city to host the European decider in the tournament’s 24-year existence.
However, so evenly matched does he feel both semi-finals are this weekend, he only eventually gives a hesitant vote to Saracens and his former club Toulouse to set up an Anglo-French final at the expense of the two remaining Irish provinces, Munster and Leinster.
“Sorry, I can’t pick them,” said the 33-year-old to RugbyPass when quizzed on which teams he expects to be doing battle on the banks of the Tyne in three weeks’ time.
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“But if I was going to say, I would say Toulouse might sneak it against Leinster and then I think Saracens will just have enough with home advantage to sneak it with Munster.”
Flood is a long-serving Champions Cup veteran, featuring in 46 matches during 10 different campaigns for Newcastle (one season), Toulouse (three seasons) and Leicester (six seasons).
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He appeared in quarter-finals with the Tigers in 2014, 2013 and 2011, but his most agonising season came in 2009 when an achilles injury in the English club’s semi-final win over Cardiff ruled him out of the final at Murrayfield versus Leinster, the province he now expects to be ambushed in Dublin by the visiting Toulouse.
? ONE DAY TO GO ?
The semi-finals are almost upon us ?
Who will take a step closer to lifting the #Heineken #ChampionsCup tophy, @Saracens, @Munsterrugby, @leinsterrugby or @StadeToulousain?
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the weekend?https://t.co/5onUBbrU9f pic.twitter.com/uInaxNGGee
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 19, 2019
“I have still got a soft spot for Toulouse,” he explained. “I was back there a couple of days ago. You have got friends there who you have a relationship with that you would like to do well.
“It’s going to be an incredibly tough for them to play Leinster in Dublin. I find it bizarre Leinster are allowed to play there. I don’t know the rules on that, but Saracens have had to move to Coventry (for their home semi-final) while Leinster stay in Dublin. I don’t know how they get to play there because they get to play there quite a bit.
“It’s not as neutral as it could be, but there is going to take a huge travelling support and the French are incredibly vocal supporters. My head says Leinster, just because of Leinster’s pedigree, but my heart would like to say Toulouse.
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“If anyone has the opportunity to win those games it is probably Toulouse in the sense of how they have been playing away, the willingness and the heart they have to throw the ball around.
“Leinster are incredibly creative around set-piece stuff and they have got some big ball carriers, but they are much more pragmatic. Toulouse are going to throw it around and we’ll see how they get on. That’s going to be quite good fun. It’s a meeting of two good teams, a meeting of two very differing perspectives of how to play the game.
“I don’t know if it [Toulouse’s revival] is so much about him (coach Ugo Mola). He has got a very good, young group coming through. (Romain) Ntamack is a very good young player, Thomas Ramos a great player, and they have got guys up front who are starting to mature, the likes of Cyril Baille.
“They have been astute in the market buying Cheslin Kolbe for what they want to do. He has been very impressive. But above all of that, and this is a real credit to themselves, they have brought Clement Poitrenaud back into the system.
“He’s making a huge impact in terms of their skill base, in terms of playing the off-loading game. He has put a huge amount of emphasis on the skills for producing in tough moments when it’s really difficult.
“The key to it is the structure. When I look at it, X, Y and Z haven’t really changed but what has happened is that skill execution has and bringing Clement back into the system has been very impressive and very important.”
Leinster hosting Toulouse is the second semi-final on a bumper Champions Cup weekend that kicks off with Saturday’s collision between Saracens and Munster in Coventry.
“You have actually got two very similar teams, both very set-piece orientated with very good nines who like to box-kick well. I have a feeling it’s one of those ones where I can’t really pick (a winner) and that is what makes it so good because Munster have definitely got the ability to disrupt Saracens’ game.
When someone tries to make plans on Champions Cup semi-final weekend ? pic.twitter.com/hV1yxs9wDP
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) April 19, 2019
“They are willing to sit there and play very calm, very patient rugby and not get involved in too stressed plays which is what Saracens want you to do. They want you to throw it around to then make the mistakes for them to put the pressure on you.
“Munster have that structure where they can just sit there and play. Saracens won’t struggle to dominate in terms of set-piece battle, but they will find it hard, as they sometimes do in the Premiership, to get a foothold in the game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments